COLEEN

The apartment felt too quiet.

Mark’s absence was everywhere, in the lack of his sneakers scattered by the door, in the empty mug rack where his chipped favorite usually sat, in the silence that used to be filled with his humming or random guitar strums.

He’d left with his parents for a summer trip two days ago, and though I loved him dearly, I had to admit that having the place all to myself was both freeing and lonely.

Mostly lonely.

Because Hayden wasn’t here either.

I ...